How much do telecom line installers make in 2026?
Telecom line installers earned a national median of $74,330 a year ($35.73/hr) in the latest federal wage data available (BLS OEWS, May 2025 estimates). BLS counts about 97,720 people employed in this occupation in the U.S.
Annual and hourly wages, all U.S. industries. Occupation used: Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-9052). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What the percentiles mean
The median is the middle: half of telecom line installers earned more and half earned less. The 25th–75th percentile range ($54,310–$95,850) is what the middle half of workers earned. Newer workers and apprentices tend to be near the low end, and experienced, licensed or specialized workers near the high end. BLS does not publish pay by years of experience, so treat any experience-based number as an estimate.
Telecom line installers pay by state
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. "Not published" means BLS did not release that estimate (too few survey responses, or not enough workers to publish).
| State | Median / yr | Median / hr | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,890 | $29.27 | $46,320 | $90,530 | 1,530 |
| Alaska | $97,450 | $46.85 | $58,530 | $108,140 | 390 |
| Arizona | $58,600 | $28.17 | $39,730 | $80,410 | 790 |
| Arkansas | $60,840 | $29.25 | $36,160 | $99,150 | 1,690 |
| California | $97,980 | $47.11 | $60,260 | $106,230 | 8,810 |
| Colorado | $66,020 | $31.74 | $46,490 | $93,930 | 1,630 |
| Connecticut | $97,140 | $46.70 | $76,960 | $117,740 | 500 |
| Delaware | $93,850 | $45.12 | $38,370 | $98,580 | 310 |
| District of Columbia | $97,600 | $46.92 | $47,330 | $99,120 | 500 |
| Florida | $61,740 | $29.68 | $37,510 | $80,620 | 5,760 |
| Georgia | $58,760 | $28.25 | $41,040 | $80,960 | 3,530 |
| Hawaii | $79,880 | $38.40 | $60,630 | $119,240 | 680 |
| Idaho | $56,340 | $27.09 | $45,070 | $77,170 | 300 |
| Illinois | $70,700 | $33.99 | $33,810 | $100,140 | 2,460 |
| Indiana | $58,920 | $28.33 | $41,600 | $80,440 | 1,580 |
| Iowa | $60,890 | $29.27 | $40,410 | $85,760 | 820 |
| Kansas | $63,560 | $30.56 | $38,840 | $100,400 | 530 |
| Kentucky | $64,010 | $30.77 | $42,450 | $91,420 | 1,870 |
| Louisiana | $48,770 | $23.45 | $38,070 | $91,920 | 960 |
| Maine | $92,120 | $44.29 | $65,170 | $97,390 | 680 |
| Maryland | $82,380 | $39.60 | $51,160 | $102,290 | 2,400 |
| Massachusetts | $103,410 | $49.72 | $56,640 | $108,790 | 2,230 |
| Michigan | $74,360 | $35.75 | $47,440 | $84,450 | 2,780 |
| Minnesota | $73,710 | $35.44 | $49,580 | $96,020 | 1,130 |
| Mississippi | $49,360 | $23.73 | $30,760 | $79,680 | 700 |
| Missouri | $59,080 | $28.41 | $43,050 | $96,050 | 2,710 |
| Montana | $75,720 | $36.41 | $48,110 | $94,680 | 530 |
| Nebraska | $50,070 | $24.07 | $41,420 | $80,780 | 390 |
| Nevada | $72,230 | $34.73 | $46,600 | $96,110 | 730 |
| New Hampshire | $86,370 | $41.53 | $58,210 | $100,960 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $102,090 | $49.08 | $58,690 | $115,000 | 2,540 |
| New Mexico | $58,130 | $27.95 | $40,280 | $78,330 | 350 |
| New York | $100,960 | $48.54 | $50,470 | $120,090 | 8,530 |
| North Carolina | $56,680 | $27.25 | $38,630 | $81,490 | 2,610 |
| North Dakota | $59,280 | $28.50 | $45,460 | $96,440 | 300 |
| Ohio | $62,860 | $30.22 | $47,110 | $91,550 | 3,920 |
| Oklahoma | $48,900 | $23.51 | $35,230 | $96,050 | 1,410 |
| Oregon | $60,330 | $29.00 | $44,900 | $83,370 | 920 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,020 | $38.95 | $46,280 | $100,200 | 3,890 |
| Rhode Island | $103,810 | $49.91 | $81,260 | $105,930 | 490 |
| South Carolina | $59,790 | $28.75 | $39,230 | $81,710 | 1,310 |
| South Dakota | $49,560 | $23.83 | $35,370 | $74,800 | 590 |
| Tennessee | $63,510 | $30.53 | $45,720 | $83,820 | 2,620 |
| Texas | $75,740 | $36.42 | $46,540 | $102,500 | 9,700 |
| Utah | $60,090 | $28.89 | $41,630 | $78,120 | 800 |
| Vermont | $61,970 | $29.79 | $50,070 | $85,170 | 310 |
| Virginia | $79,090 | $38.03 | $45,220 | $102,470 | 4,120 |
| Washington | $76,070 | $36.57 | $49,320 | $103,360 | 1,510 |
| West Virginia | $89,690 | $43.12 | $60,640 | $93,340 | 1,270 |
| Wisconsin | $63,560 | $30.56 | $47,710 | $91,080 | 950 |
| Wyoming | $63,660 | $30.61 | $38,580 | $91,240 | 160 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,770 | $15.28 | $21,840 | $46,490 | 1,010 |
How to earn more as a telecom line installer
- Get fiber splicing and testing skills (OTDR, fusion splicing) and certifications such as FOA CFOT or BICSI.
- Get a CDL and bucket-truck experience. Many outside-plant jobs need them.
- Tower climbing jobs add training requirements and often pay more.
- Utility and carrier jobs often pay more than small subcontractors. Compare benefits and overtime.
- Move to lead splicer, foreman or construction inspector.
Find telecom line installer work
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FAQ
How much do telecom line installers make an hour?
The national median wage for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-9052) was $35.73 an hour, or $74,330 a year, in the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates. Half earned more and half earned less.
What do the highest-paid telecom line installers earn?
The top 10% earned at least $103,680 a year ($49.85/hr). The bottom 10% earned less than $45,310 ($21.79/hr).
Which states pay telecom line installers the most?
By median annual wage in the BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates: Rhode Island ($103,810); Massachusetts ($103,410); New Jersey ($102,090). Living costs differ by state, too.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 49-9052 (Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers). They cover wage and salary workers in all industries, not the self-employed, and are not broken out by experience.
Source and method
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Files oesm25nat and oesm25st from bls.gov, downloaded Nov 8, 2026. Occupation: Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-9052), cross-industry, all ownerships. OEWS wages are straight-time gross pay: they include commissions, production bonuses, tips and on-call pay, and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. Annual wages are generally the hourly wage times 2,080 hours. "Not published" = estimate not released by BLS. BLS occupation profile · All pay guides